Support for Jeremy Corbyn increases, poll

Support for British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn among party members is increasing, a Times newspaper opinion poll published Tuesday shows.

The poll suggests 64 percent of Labour members would vote for Corbyn as party leader again, up from the 59.5 percent who backed him in September.

72 percent of members think Corbyn is doing a good job, compared to 66 percent in November. The poll also recorded a small increase in those who believe Corbyn is competent: up from 41 to 45 percent.

Last week, Corbyn told MPs the party was not doing enough to win the next general election, scheduled for 2020.

In a series of local elections on May 5, Labour suffered significant losses in Scotland, but held on to most of its council seats in England.

The party won mayoral elections in London, Bristol, Liverpool and Salford. Pressure on Corbyn increased ahead of the local elections, with the media reporting Labour had suspended 50 members for racist comments over the previous two months.